->''"He is simply the best. He can [make] anyone look great. He creates a story from his bumps and moves. But it's a double edged sword. He can even make someone look foolish with his sheer ability. Wrestling/HulkHogan learned that."''-->--'''[[http://wwehalloffameblog.com/category/class-of-2011/page/2/ James Ferrarella]]'''

Trained in Mexico by El Gran Lothario, '''Shawn Michaels''' (b. Michael Shawn Hickenbottom in Phoenix, UsefulNotes/{{Arizona}} in 1965) is one of the longest tenured performers in Wrestling/{{WWE}} history, having worked with the company [[CoolOldGuy until his 40s]].

As of 2011 (a year after his retirement) Shawn is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame, and was voted the greatest ''[[InsistentTerminology superstar]]'' of all time by the WWE roster. He is currently hosting a hunting show on Outdoor Channel called ''[[http://www.mrahunting.com/ MacMillan River Adventures]]''.

On a tangential note, Michaels is the spiritual father of Wrestling/TheKliq -- essentially the Creator/RatPack of pro wrestling -- who had the run of WWE for a few years, and ultimately pulled the trigger on the Wrestling/MondayNightWars. Michaels' protégé, Wrestling/KevinNash, would perfect the Kliq system with a little club called the [[Wrestling/NewWorldOrder nWo]].

----!!! "My tropes are cute, I think they're sexy...":* TenMinuteRetirement:** Shawn's back injuries would force him out of the ring for four years. After his triumphant return in 2002, Shawn wrestled for years until ProfessionalWrestling/TheUndertaker forced him into retirement for good.* TheAce: He could get a good match out of a coat rack.** BrokenAce: Back in the '90s, before he retired for four years after 1998. Ask anyone about Shawn during that time, and they will straight out tell you that as amazing as a talent he was, he could be a colossal jerk who had no issues throwing his weight around. It's generally subverted after his conversion to Christianity, though, as by that point Shawn had become TheAtoner and stayed away from the world title, aside from the occasional title shot and a short reign in 2002.* AgentPeacock: A preening, flamboyant pretty boy, but can kick ass in and out of the ring, despite his relatively small size.* ArchEnemy: Aside from [[Wrestling/TheKliq his four friends]], he tends to make a LOT of enemies.** Wrestling/BretHart (in the ring and RealLife). Although Hart's return to WWE in 2010 coupled with Michaels's conversion to Christianity seems to have buried that hatchet in RealLife.** In {{Kayfabe}}, Wrestling/TheUndertaker is probably his second most notable example. Some of the most legendary matches in WWE history have been between these two men, and 'Taker is the one who eventually had the honor to retire Shawn for good.** In his Midnight Rockers days in [[Wrestling/AmericanWrestlingAssociation the AWA]], [[Wrestling/PlayboyBuddyRose "Playboy" Buddy Rose]] and "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers** The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers, Power and Glory (Hercules and Paul Roma), Wrestling/RickMartel, [[Wrestling/CurtHennig Mr. Perfect]] and Wrestling/ShaneDouglas have also qualified, with the last one not being entirely in {{Kayfabe}}.** Shawn's tendency to make enemies was made evident when it was revealed that he was made the special guest referee for the ''New Year's Revolution 2005'' Elimination Chamber. ''No one'' in the chamber was happy (least of all Triple H) because every single one of them had been in a feud with Shawn in some capacity and kicked in the face by him, barring Wrestling/{{Edge}}. Then, in the chamber, Edge ended up antagonizing Shawn, causing him to eat Sweet Chin Music and lose the match, which would kickstart said feud. ** Not even his TrueCompanions at Wrestling/TheKliq and Wrestling/DGenerationX were safe from Shawn's tendency to make enemies:*** During the early days of the Heartbreak Kid, his arch-nemesis was ScottHall (in reality one of his closest friends). The two had a legendary feud over the Intercontinental Title that lasted years.*** Wrestling/TripleH also deserves a mention under this trope. They feuded for about three years, a feud which survived several of the classic "feud ending" match types (Last Man Standing, Hell In A Cell, Elimination Chamber, and even a Three Stages of Hell match), before finally being put to rest with an HBK win at a Tribute to the Troops show. All that was really missing was an "I Quit" match, although there WAS a Wrestlemania-headlining Triple Threat in which Wrestling/TripleH submitted (alas, not to Shawn, but to Wrestling/ChrisBenoit).* TheArtifact: Shawn's persona pre-2002 was ''very'' different than the one he had from 2002-2010. However, Shawn still maintained many of the tropes of his "Sexy Boy" rock star gimmick, perhaps most glaringly his nickname of "the Heartbreak Kid" and his theme song. Anyone who wasn't aware of his gimmicks in the 80's and 90's were probably very confused as to why the Bible-thumping laid back CoolOldGuy was coming out to "Sexy Boy." Being known as the Heartbreak Kid made a lot more sense when he was a ladies man in his 20's. Not so much as a happily married Christian well into middle-age.* TheAtoner: Ever since his RealLife conversion to Christianity, Shawn became this. He tried to tone down his former juvenile delinquent hellraiser persona in the ring and, behind the scenes, work with the current talent and put over younger wrestlers (which he would never have done in the past). Finally, in 2010, he buried the hatchet with Wrestling/BretHart and they came to an understanding regarding his part in the Wrestling/MontrealScrewjob. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a03ZMBIGxOU&feature=related By Wrestlemania 26]] it was clear both wrestlers were finally in speaking terms again.* AttentionWhore: In his younger days. He's toned it down a ''lot'' since he found religion and got less of an ego.* AudienceSurrogate:** On the July 21st 2008 edition of Raw, Shawn complained about how belts have no value if guys never defend them, specifically mentioning no one could remember the last time Wrestling/{{Carlito| Colon}} defended the intercontinental championship.** Shawn also took potshots at [[DiscontinuityNod Katie Vick]], idly noting to Eric Bischoff that it didn't offend him as a religious man, but rather as a ''wrestling fan''.* BadassBoast: "I will give you a show like you have never ever seen before! Why? ''Because I can''."* BadBadActing: Done ''intentionally'' to Wrestling/HulkHogan at ''[[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7o0rg_summerslam-2005-hulk-hogan-vs-shawn_news Summerslam 2005.]]'' Hogan had screwed Shawn by getting him to agree to lose to him at ''Summerslam'' but then welching on the planned return match where Shawn would get his own win, citing injury. Justifiably pissed off, Shawn [[LargeHam oversold]] every attack Hogan made to the level of ''pantomime absurdity,'' tumbling around the ring like a slinky after each hit and making the Hulkster look ridiculous. The highlight (or lowlight) was probably when Hogan hurled him against the turnbuckle and Shawn jumped up and spread himself across it instead- when Hogan came in to deliver a bunch of kicks to his exposed belly, Shawn ''threw'' himself into the air with each kick like he was spring-loaded, ending by coming down onto the ropes [[GroinAttack groin first]]. At several points in the match, Hogan is visibly ''fuming'' at the farce Shawn has made of it, looking at him with a "what the ''hell'' do you think you're ''doing?!"'' expression on his face.* BashBrothers: With Wrestling/TripleH. ** And with Wrestling/KevinNash before that.*** And with Marty Janetty long before that, prior to their breakup. They even won the AWA World Tag Titles together.* BerserkButton:** He got very steamed when Triple H made fun of his receding hairline during their 2008 Christmas Promos for [=WWEShop=].COM. The second time, Shawn attacked Hunter for it.** Attacking Triple H in the latter half of 2013. Both Wrestling/DanielBryan and Wrestling/CMPunk ended up listening to some Sweet Chin Music for doing so on two separate occasions.* BewareTheNiceOnes: [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince [=McMahon=]]] learned this the hard way. Wrestling/RandyOrton, Wrestling/ChrisJericho, and [[Wrestling/JohnBradshawLayfield JBL]] apparently weren't paying attention.* BittersweetEnding: Shawn's match with Wrestling/RicFlair at ''WrestleMania 24''.** The "Career vs Streak" match against Wrestling/TheUndertaker at Wrestlemania 26.** WrestleMania 14 vs. Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin, his last match in Wrestling/{{WWE}} for four years, when it was believed he'd never wrestle again.* BloodIsTheNewBlack: The first Hell in a Cell match with the Undertaker. Watch the spot with the Snake Eyes to the outside of the cage, and see if you can spot Shawn's amazing mid-air blade job. He's practically all-crimson by the time the match ends.* BondageIsBad[=/=]ReadyForLovemaking: Shawn's [[VictoryPose win pose]] of beckoning {{Wrestling/Sherri|Martel}} over, grabbing the back of her head, and shoving her to the mat...which she responds to with a kittenish smile.** Not even the Wrestling/AttitudeEra could get away with that. (And indeed, their win pose is [[{{Bowdlerise}} Bowdlerised]] in ''[[VideoGame/WWEVideoGames WWE 2K]]''.)* {{Bookends}}: [[TearJerker "Ladies and gentlemen, The Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels, has left the building."]]* BreakupBreakout: The most famous example in professional wrestling history. After his split from The Rockers, Shawn would go on to superstardom and achieve "legend" status; Marty Jannetty...yeah.** Although at this point, Jannetty, like Millard Fillmore, is more famous for what he's not done, than he is for anything he actually did achieve, with various splitting tag teams accusing each other of 'being the Jannetty.' The sad thing is, Marty Janetty could have been a bigger star than he actually was, as he was very talented. His love for partying and getting into trouble became his worst enemy, though, and his biggest push following the Rockers breakup was cut short by an injury.** Shawn practically made this a wrestling trope after his split with Jannetty. The term "going through the barbershop window", is a reference to Shawn having tossed is partner through the window of the set of [[Wrestling/BrutusBeefcake Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake]]'s TalkShowWithFists "The Barber Shop" during their infamous break up on the January 12, 1992 (taped December 3, 1991) ''WWF Wrestling Challenge.'' When a wrestler goes through the barbershop window it means that when their team split up they went nowhere, while their former partner's career soared.*** Ironically, the only other tag team that can really compare to such a discrepancy in success is Wrestling/HulkHogan and Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake (then known as Dizzy Hogan), and even then Beefcake had more relevancy than Jannetty, mainly by riding Hogan's coattails.** Shawn was on the ''recieving'' end of this when his team with KevinNash (in his "Diesel" persona) broke up in 1995 due to Shawn being jealous that his former bodyguard won the WWF title before he did.* BrilliantButLazy: Was this during his prime. Michaels could phone in better matches than most others could do by doing their best. Whenever he wanted time off he would fake an injury. He got away with it because he was that good. * BullyingADragon[=/=]TooDumbToLive: Seems to happen a lot with anyone 6'8+ and 300 lbs.+** The April 3, 1995 ''Raw'' ended with Vince [=McMahon=] interviewing Shawn and his bodyguard [[[Wrestling/SidEudy Sycho Sid]] with Shawn telling Sid he didn't need to show up for Shawn's rematch with Diesel (Kevin Nash) that was set for the first ''in Your House'' [=PPV=] on May 14th, and that he had the night off. (The implication being that Shawn felt Sid had screwed up and cost him his last match against Diesel, and didn't trust him not to screw up again and cost him another one if he were at ringside.) Sid responded that '''[[NoIndoorVoice "NOBODY"]]''' gives him the night off, and proceeded to give Shawn three powerbombs before Diesel made the save. Shawn suffered a legitimate back injury as a result and didn't return to the ring until the ''Raw'' ''after'' the [=PPV=].** The various {{No Holds Barred Beatdown}}s he suffered at the hands of the Undertaker in 1997 would qualify as well.* ButtMonkey: Shawn is often the victim of comical physical and verbal abuse during later DX runs, but none more so than the "One Night Only" 2007 reunion, where he was attacked by both the Boogeyman and, saddest of all, '''''Wrestling/{{Hornswoggle}}'''''.* CampStraight: Despite his ridiculously flamboyant manner and... ''risque'' dress, there was never any implication that Shawn was anything other than straight and proud of it. Remember his run as champion? He looked like a come-to-life [[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure Jojo]] character.* CaptainErsatz: You can find "him" in the Game Boy Advance ''Videogame/FireProWrestling''.* CarpetOfVirility: Sported one during the 90's.* TheCasanova: Back in the day Shawn had quite the entourage, including Sheri (a.k.a. the scariest groupie ever) and {{Wrestling/Luna|Vachon}} (okay, ''second'' scariest). He's now HappilyMarried.* CatchPhrase: "Shawn Michaels [[MeaningfulEcho has left the building]]!" [[BrickJoke Brought up when he]] [[FaceHeelTurn became]] the Heartbreak Kid, after [[BittersweetEnding [=WrestleMania=] XXVI]] [[BookEnds it takes a]] [[TearJerker whole new meaning]].* CheapHeat[=/=]TakeThat: Shawn's infamous [[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xcflzf_who-s-your-daddy-montreal-raw-08-15_sport "Who's your Daddy, Montreal?"]] promo in Montreal during his 2005 feud with Wrestling/HulkHogan, during which Shawn called out Bret Hart...and Hart's theme music played, leading the entire crowd to believe that Bret was coming out to confront Shawn. But then it was revealed to be Shawn playing the crowd for fools, which earned him a loud chorus of boos:--> ''"Got your hopes up JUST a little bit, didn't I?!"''** And just to REALLY stick it to Montreal, he pulls the same stunt again a few minutes later, this time with Hulk Hogan's music:---> ''"The first time, sure, maybe I was cruel. The SECOND time, all you do is show that Montreal is every thing I ever said it was. You Canucks are NOT the sharpest knives in the drawer."''* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: His EstablishingCharacterMoment. It started in 1992 by flinging Marty Janetty through a barbershop window and just kept happening. As a member of the Kliq, he's a natural for this.** His betrayal of [[Wrestling/{{DGenerationX}} DX]] to the Corporation.** Superkicking [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] on the first episode of Smackdown.** [[{{Pun}} Kicking]] Wrestling/BookerT out of the [[Wrestling/NewWorldOrder NWO]].** Superkicking Hulk Hogan to kick-start their feud into Summerslam.** Betraying Wrestling/JohnCena while tag team partners.*** Of course, Cena [[GenreSavvy knew it was coming]], and actually stated beforehand that he knew Shawn would betray him "because that's what Shawn Michaels generally does".** A smaller one occurred at the 2010 Royal Rumble when he eliminated teammate Wrestling/TripleH. He REALLY wanted to face Wrestling/TheUndertaker.** He's also done it to Wrestling/{{Goldberg}}, and [[Wrestling/JohnBradshawLayfield JBL]] (though he unquestionably deserved it).** His latest victim of this was Wrestling/DanielBryan. [[WhatTheHellHero Nobody was amused]], much less Bryan himself, [[HoistByHisOwnPetard who immediately took it out on Shawn the next night on RAW]].** It's also been [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in numerous promos. Triple H has done it at least twice, once most notably in 2002 to Wrestling/KevinNash, when Nash was being forced to choose who he'd side with - Shawn or Hunter. Triple H reminded Nash of all the times Shawn had screwed over a tag-team partner, including themselves, in the past, and concluded that "you know as well as I do that the best success we ever had in this business was when we walked away from Shawn Michaels".** Shawn has been the victim of this as well. Once by Kevin Nash before his Iron Man Match with Bret Hart and another time by Triple H in a teased DX reunion in 2002. Sherri Martel did him in as well at the 1993 Royal Rumble. (Of course, he had it coming, having made her take a blow from a mirror to save himself a few months before.)--->'''V1:''' Um... his name is the [[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: H ]]eart [[/folder]]

[[folder: B ]]reak [[/folder]]

[[folder: K ]]id. It's not gonna end well for ya, Sherri! At all!\\'''[[WebVideo/OSWReview Jay Hunter]]''': Maybe she believes [[ICanChangeMyBeloved she can change him.]]* ContinuityNod: Not as fond of this as his best friend, Triple H, but is known to occasionally give a nod to past actions. His three-year-feud with Hunter was full of references to both [[Wrestling/TheKliq the Curtain Call]] and [[Wrestling/{{DGenerationX}} DX]], as well as their real-life friendship.* CoolOldGuy: From 2002 to his retirement in 2010.* TheCoverChangesTheGender: Shawn's theme music was originally sung by his then-manager Wrestling/SherriMartel in third person singing his praises. After he ditched her, he sang it himself, changing the lyrics to first person and singing about just how hot and bothered he makes the ladies.* CrucifiedHeroShot: During his entrance.* DefiantToTheEnd: The way his match at ''[=WrestleMania=] XXVI'' ended. Shawn was beaten and exhausted, desperately clawing up the feet of the Undertaker as he attempted to stand, while 'Taker, showing respect for Michaels's career and feeling a tinge of mercy, yelled at him to stay down. Knowing full well he was going to lose but unwilling to go down without a fight, Shawn mimicked 'Taker's signature "throat cut" gesture, and when 'Taker didn't respond, ''slapped him across the face''. One tombstone later, the career of one of the greatest performers to ever grace a WWE ring was over.* {{Determinator}}: In 1998, he was told he might not ''walk again'' after back surgery, much less ever compete as a wrestler. In 2002, he returned to the WWE as a performer, got in the ring, won his first match back, and continued to compete full time until 2010. Not to mention kicking his drug habit in the process.* DiscontinuityNod: He and Triple H took shots at the infamous Katie Vick angle in a promo on 2007.-->'''Shawn Michaels''': I don't know who writes this garbage, but this is the worst debacle since that whole Katie Vick thing years ago!** He took a shot at the angle in 2002, after winning the World Heavyweight Title for the first time:-->'''Shawn Michaels''': No! It offends me as a wrestling fan!* DoItYourselfThemeTune: To reflect his egomania, Shawn comes down the ramp to himself singing "I'M JUST A SEXY BOY" accompanied by what sounds like an 80's Casio keyboard. The song was originally written by Wrestling/JimmyHart and sung by Sherri Martel ("like I'm on Cloud '''''[[MetalScream NEEHHH!]]'''''"). It is simultaneously one of Hart's worst and best productions.* DramaticSitDown: Shawn does this in the third encounter at ''[=WrestleMania=]'' between Wrestling/TheUndertaker and Wrestling/TripleH in their Hell in a Cell match, where Shawn was the guest referee. During the match, Undertaker told Shawn not to stop the match no matter what. This was after 'Taker had taken a few chair shots to the back and Triple H had just gotten the same in return, both men bleeding and disoriented at this point. Shawn was sitting in the corner of the ring having a nervous breakdown while Undertaker and Triple H were trying to get to their feet after a two count had occurred.* DudeLooksLikeALady: Some of his wrestling attire and jewelry in the early-to-mid 90's made him pretty femme. Add that to the long, gorgeous blonde hair and well, it got confusing there for a little bit.* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In his earliest example of his future HeelFaceRevolvingDoor tendencies, the Midnight Rockers actually had a heel run in Memphis in 1987, even though they had been working face everywhere else they went at the time, complete with a manager, Mark Guleen.** "Sweet Chin Music" or the Superkick, has been in Michaels' arsenal of moves for years, but initially it wasn't used as a finisher, and it was just an arbitrary wear down move. His initial finishing move was the teardrop suplex. * EvenTheGuysWantHim: Shawn's blonde ponytail, midriff-baring outfits, and "broken-heart" tights endeared him to many, many females - and no doubt quite a few males, too.** Not to mention the short-shorts, penchant for jewelry, and aversion to shirts.** He posed (in a non-nude spread) for Playgirl unaware that the readership is mostly gay males. A lot of the other wrestlers found this pretty funny. This was [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] later during his second run in DX:--->'''Hunter''': What?! [[HowDidThatGetInThere How did that get on there?]]--->'''Shawn''': I was young! I was stupid! You told me girls bought that magazine!*** Note that "non-nude" is more a technicality than anything; one of the pictures has Shawn wearing only a hat and earrings, with nothing but a strategically-placed Intercontinental Championship belt covering his privates.*** Actually, it's [[http://showstoppa23.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/32.jpg just a necklace and his Intercontinental Belt]] (NSFW). One of the other shots - the one used for the old shame moment above - is [[http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/kimpips/SHAWN.jpg just a towel]].* EvilWearsBlack: Shawn was wearing black at the Barbershop skit. Janetty was wearing red and blue. Talk about {{Foreshadowing}}.* FingerPokeOfDoom: Quite possibly the ''original'', at least to how the term is used in professional wrestling and definitely the first any national promotion had the audacity to air when he laid down for Triple H and gave up the European Championship. It wasn't as hated as the WCW example because it did not involve the prior destruction of a hot star (Wrestling/{{Goldberg}}), it did not lead to a retread of an angle people were getting sick of (the Wrestling/{{n|ew World order}}Wo), it wasn't the top title, it wasn't in the main event, and [[PlayedForLaughs it was]] ''[[CrowningMomentOfFunny fucking hilarious!]]''.* FinishingMove** Sweet Chin Music, aka the Superkick.** He was also one of the very few wrestlers to use Wrestling/ChrisBenoit's Crippler Crossface.** Early in his career, Shawn also used a leghook saito suplex called the Teardrop as a finisher.* FiveMovesOfDoom: During the latter part of his career. Flying forearm (followed by kip-up), reverse atomic drop, punches to the face, scoop slam, and top rope elbow. This ultimately set up for the Sweet Chin Music.* FoeTossingCharge: If you are a cameraman, there is a wrestler behind you, and Shawn Michaels is angry and coming toward you, GET OUT OF THE WAY.* ForeignWrestlingHeel: [[AmericansHateTingle To Canadians]].** NeverLiveItDown: ...so much that to this day, Canadians chant "YOU SCREWED BRET!" at Michaels.*** Except when he's in DX - apparently, that gives him uber-PopularityPower.* GameBreakingInjury: Shawn's aforementioned back injury. By 1998, his spine was like a stack of Pringles.* GenreBlind: As a referee, he tried to check the wrestlers for concealed weapons...at an Wrestling/{{FMW}} show. He tried to count out wrestlers not wrestling inside of the ring...at an FMW show.* GimmickMatches: He participated in many firsts, most notably the first Ladder Match on a [=PPV=] (with Razor Ramon at Wrestlemania 10), the first Hell in a Cell (with The Undertaker at In Your House '97), and the first Elimination Chamber match (at the 2002 Survivor Series), where he won the World Heavyweight Championship four years after originally calling it quits.** The first ladder match in the WWF was between Michaels and Bret Hart on a Saturday Night's Main Event.* GorgeousGeorge: The origin of his "sexy boy" monicker, not that many viewers know it. See, WWE tried to turn Shawn Michaels back into a baby face ''without'' turning down his ambiguously gay mannerisms whatsoever and the crowds still hated him, so then they just decided to make him a straight up lady killer...but not before sticking into gay men's magazine ''Playgirl''!* HeelFaceTurn/HeelFaithTurn: A somewhat unique Real Life version. Shawn was known for his selfish primadonna behavior during his prime, but after becoming a Born Again Christian, he underwent a major personality shift, and has by all accounts become a much nicer person in real life. He spent the majority of his career after returning in 2002 helping to put over younger talent, most noteably Wrestling/RandyOrton, Wrestling/{{Batista}} and Wrestling/KurtAngle.* HeroicBSOD:** In the 2010 Royal Rumble, one of the biggest stories going in was Shawn Michaels' desire to face Wrestling/TheUndertaker at ''Wrestling/{{WrestleMania}}'' in order to try and avenge his loss to him the year prior (in a match that was widely considered to be the best of 2009), and since Taker is the current World Heavyweight Champion, the only way for Michaels to have a guaranteed stab at him was to win the Rumble match itself and challenge him at Mania. So in the Rumble match itself, Shawn Michaels survives a long stretch of the match (eliminating Triple H, ''his own tag team partner'', in the process) and makes the final four, where he... goes out first, at the hands of Wrestling/{{Batista}}. The BSOD ensues immediately afterwards, only broken up briefly by Michaels trying to go back into the ring and taking his frustrations out on the referees before returning to a near-catatonic state.** Michaels seems to be particularly prone to these. He had already experienced one at the 2008 ''Wrestling/UnforgivenWrestling'' pay-per-view, where he challenged Wrestling/ChrisJericho to an Unsanctioned Match after Jericho punched his wife in the face. He whipped his enemy with a belt, injuring him so grievously that Jericho went into shock. The bell was rung, and an announcer declared Michaels the winner of the fight. By this point, however, Michaels was so consumed with rage that [[NightmareFuel his face had gone completely blank]] and he was continuing to mindlessly whale away on the unconscious Jericho as if he didn't understand what he was doing. He finally snapped out of his stupor after a referee tried to stop him and he kicked the official in the face; he then had a MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment and finally agreed to leave the ring.** HBK's biggest BSOD came after the 1996 Survivor Series. Not only did the NYC crowd boo him during his WWF Championship defense against Sycho Sid, but Sid resorted to taking out Jose Lothario out with a camera to completely demoralize Shawn. Sid ended up winning the WWF Championship.** During the third encounter at ''[=WrestleMania=] between The Undertaker and Triple H in their Hell in a Cell match, where Shawn was the guest referee, at one point during the match things had gotten to the point of Shawn being told by the Undertaker not to stop the match no matter what happened. This was after 'Taker had suffered a few chair shots to the back and Triple H had just gotten the same in return. Watching his best friend and one of his idols beating the tar out of each other was apparently too much; Shawn was sitting in the corner of the ring looking like he was having a nervous breakdown.* HeterosexualLifePartners: He and Triple H are probably the most famous and well-known example in wrestling history, due to their RealLife friendship [[RealLifeWritesThePlot being exploited]] for storyline purposes. From 2006 onwards, whenever one is in the spotlight, you can be sure they're mentioning the other.** In 2011, Hunter inducted Shawn into the Hall of Fame, and there was much love abounding [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYooxiT_coE both before]] and during the ceremony. * HoistByHisOwnPetard: After he all but screwed Daniel Bryan out of the WWE Championship, HBK explained to a silently fuming Bryan that it was an example of his final lesson: Never trust ANYONE in this business, friend, family or spouse, after which he demanded that Bryan shake the hand of a real A-List player in Shawn Michaels; Daniel obliges, but it's a shame for Shawn that [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BydcZEiLJYo&feature=player_detailpage#t=371 Bryan's a ''real'' fast learner.]]* HowMuchMoreCanHeTake: Shawn's made a career of this, being put through the wringer again and again.** His hour-plus Iron Man match against Wrestling/BretHart cemented their positions as the company's best talent, leaving it all in the ring.** His 40-minute Last Man Standing match against Wrestling/TripleH at the Royal Rumble in 2004 left the ring soaked in his blood.** His Hell in a Cell match against Hunter was like this as well, with Shawn taking [[NoOneCouldSurviveThat 3 Pedigrees]] before finally going down.*** His original Hell in a Cell match against Wrestling/TheUndertaker also counts.** His 1995 Royal Rumble win counts, as he was the first man in and last man out, but spent most of the 60-some match getting worked over.** His 2003 Survivor Series bout definitely counts too. See the [=CMoA=] page for details.* IHaveTheHighGround: To hit the elbow drop or occasional moonsault* TheImmodestOrgasm: C'mon, let's be honest. What the hell else are those female screams at the beginning of "Sexy Boy" supposed to be?* ItsPersonal: Some of Shawn's best feuds were this, particularly with Chris Jericho. To say nothing of his three-year long, on-and-off feud with Triple H.* JackOfAllStats: One of the very, very best in the business, Shawn was a high-flyer who could mat wrestle with Wrestling/KurtAngle and brawl with Wrestling/TheUndertaker.* {{Jerkass}}: Both as a heel and in RealLife, for a bit.* JiveTurkey: Only in a hilarious DX sketch, wherein he riffs off the famous [[Film/{{Airplane}} "I speak jive"]] bit. In real life, he subverts it: Shawn will be the first to tell you he's painfully un-hip.* KnightTemplar: During his feud with The Undertaker in 2009 and 2010. Going to far as to dress himself up as an [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angelic]] [[KungFuJesus Jesus.]]* LightningBruiser: He was one of the first "small" wrestlers to get over in the WWF and become the "top" champion. He is still larger and stronger than a lot of other wrestlers, such as Rey Mysterio, and wouldn't even be classified as a smaller guy in today's WWE.** Kevin Nash mentioned in a shoot interview that when he first met Shawn he was surprised at how much bigger he was in real life than he looked on TV. At the time Shawn was about his bulkiest though, around 240lbs. * LivingLegend: Shawn is arguably the greatest professional wrestler of all time, and you can bet your ass he knows how good he is. Perhaps best exemplified (other than his entire 90s run) during a promo with Daniel Bryan, in which Bryan refused to accept Michaels' apology for the events of Hell in a Cell 2013. After Michaels ranted about "humbling [him]self" and demanded "the respect [he's] earned," Bryan STILL wouldn't have any of it, and [[HandshakeRefusal refused to shake Shawn's hand]] twice, leading to this:-->'''Michaels:''' Let me tell you somethin', you self-righteous little puke! For seven months, I've been listening to people call you a B+ player, and the whole time, I have stuck up for you, saying "No, he's an A+ player." You wanna know something? I quite honestly don't know, and what's more, I don't care! What I do know is ''this:'' I am an A+ player. I always have been, and I always will be. [[LargeHam For the love of God, I am Shawn Michaels]]! I'm giving you the chance, on worldwide TV, to shake my hand! Now do it!* LoserLeavesTown: He was integral in three ''half''-matches of this type:** At ''Wrestlemania XXIV'', he ended Ric Flair's career by defeating him; and** At ''Wrestlemania XXVI'', he bet his career he could end the Undertaker's streak. He couldn't.** Finally, at ''Wrestlemania XXVIII'', he was the guest referee for the Triple H/Undertaker Hell in a Cell match, billed as "the end of an era".* LovableTraitor: Practically the TropeCodifier for professional wrestling. A good amount of the feuds he's been in over the years, especially, with fellow faces, have been built upon the fact that he can turn on them at any time, usually with his ChronicBackstabbingDisorder being brought up. Yet the crowd loves him for it.** Subverted for quite possibly the first time after Hell in the Cell '13, where ''nobody'' loved how he kicked his former student Daniel Bryan out of finally winning the WWE Championship.*** Definitely Subverted. Shawn won the Double-Cross of the Year at the Slammy Awards for it. Why is this significant? Because, as he pointed out, this is the first time in his entire career he has won the award, despite the fact that he spent his entire career turning on people. To top it off, Shawn had been ''retired'' for three years by that point, and usually retirees are always on the good side of the fans, no matter what they do or what they ''used'' to do (see: Wrestling/{{Edge}}).* ManlyTears:** Upon winning his first WWF Championship (and [[MemeticMutation achieving his "boyhood dream"]]).** After his final Wrestlemania match and his retirement speech the next night on Raw.** Upon counting Undertaker's Wrestlemania record to 20-0; Taker having beaten Triple H.** After "losing his smile." Yes, you read that right.* TheMentor: Shawn mentored many wrestlers during his four-year retirement, including Lance Cade, Paul London, and Wrestling/{{TNA}} wrestlers Michael Shane and (The) Brian Kendrick. Wrestling/BryanDanielson also trained under him before launching onto the indy circuit.* MilitaryBrat: His dad was an Air Force pilot and he grew up on various military bases.* Wrestling/MontrealScrewjob: One of the main participants. Will NeverLiveItDown in Canada.** Let's go into a bit of detail about the event. Immediately after the event, and years later, Shawn would vehemently deny being a part of it. He would eventually come round and admit to screwing Bret, particularly in his book Heartbreak & Triumph. As Shawn tells it he, Vince, and Wrestling/TripleH were discussing the Survivor Series main event and how Bret would absolutely refuse to lose the belt to Shawn. After Hunter was encouraged to share his views, he took a stand on Bret needing to job to him. This caused Shawn to just come out with the screwjob idea, something he and Hunter thought Vince had planned but wanted them to propose.** The Screwjob becomes harsher now, as the Screwjob left Bret's brother, Owen, alone in WWE, with Bret unable to protect Owen from doing the stunt that cost him his life on May 23, 1999, giving the Screwjob's legacy a REALLY bad taste in the mouths of the fans of the Hart Family, and all Canadian fans of WWE. * MoodWhiplash: At ''Wrestlemania XXV'', Shawn descends stoically, hands upward in prayer, to the ramp on a lift in all white Undertaker-themed clothing to an epic theme of Biblical proportions which sounds like the theme to a fantasy film action sequence... and then "Sexy Boy" hits.* MotorMouth: Most notably in his DX phase. His real-life big mouth got him into a lot of trouble on numerous occasions.* MrFanservice: His run with Sherry Martel was supposed to emphasize his sexiness** GorgeousGeorge: His run in Degeneration X, Bret Hart went so far as to call him and Triple H "homos" but like any good Gorgeous George he also had Chyna around for his antics.** PrettyBoy: He kept using the "sexy boy" theme into the 2000s, well after any time he could have been considered boyish. Hulk Hogan still talked down to him as if he was a pretty boy too.* NiceCharacterMeanActor: As noted by Wrestling/JimCornette during the days of Shawn's excessive [[DrugsAreBad pill popping.]] According to Jim, during his match with Wrestling/{{Vader}}, Summerslam 1996 Shawn berated Vader for missing a cue. Shawn even [[KickTheDog made the big man cry]] after threatening to fire him for pulling his hair.-->'''[[http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=58003799&blogId=321293827#ixzz0zNN55YTh Jim Cornette:]]''' Well, Shawn Michaels is still the single most talented athlete in wrestling today inside the ring, but outside he's an adolescent, obnoxious jerk who takes his tights and goes home if he doesn't get his way.** [[MeanCharacterNiceActor Inverted after becoming a born-again Christian.]]* NiceJobBreakingItHero: At Wrestlemania XV he didn't agree with the scheduled main event, a Triple Threat match involving Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin, [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]], and [[Wrestling/MickFoley Mankind]], insisting that the main event at Wrestlemania ''must'' be two wrestlers only. But he wanted Stone Cold vs Mankind; instead we got Stone Cold vs The Rock. Not a bad match, but most agree Mick Foley deserved to star in that main event.** Which makes ''Wrestlemania XX'' yet again a FunnyAneurysmMoment: the main event was a triple-threat between Shawn, Wrestling/TripleH, and Wrestling/ChrisBenoit, and it's widely regarded as one of the best main-events in the history of the PPV.** At ''[=SummerSlam=]'' 1997, Shawn refereed the world championship match between Wrestling/BretHart and Wrestling/TheUndertaker. He was doing a good job up until the very end when, suspecting Bret Hart of using a chair when he wasn't looking (and he did), he got spat at by Bret. Incensed he took the chair he was holding and attempted to hit Bret...only to brain The Undertaker (again). His hands tied, he had to count the pinfall against The Undertaker and award Bret the championship as a result of his own actions.** To explain it a bit further; Michaels just about begged Vince [=McMahon=] (in a promo on Raw) to be allowed to referee the match. [=McMahon=] gave it the okay, much to Hart's disapproval - this was before the Montreal Screwjob, but the rivalry was heating up. Michaels declared that if he didn't call the match right down the middle, he'd ban himself from wrestling in the US. Right after Michaels blasts Undertaker with the chair, the look of disgust on his face says it all, as well as the sly look on Hart's face as he goes for the cover.* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Shawn's return match in 2002 - a hardcore brawl with Triple H - was one of these. Surprisingly, it wasn't one-sided, with both Shawn and Triple H on the receiving end of said beatdown.** They did it again at the '04 Royal Rumble, in a Last Man Standing match that ''neither one'' walked away from. It's a testament to both men's abilities and the severity of the back-and-forth beatdown that they pulled off a double-DQ match in ''Philadelphia'' (the birthplace of Wrestling/{{ECW}}, whose fans are among the most [[SmartMark vicious and rabid]]) and got a standing ovation from the crowd.** Also: the very first Hell in a Cell match, which Shawn won, though he was on the receiving end of the beatdown.** And his match with [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince [=McMahon=]]] at Wrestlemania 22. In short? Shawn pwned Vince ''thoroughly''.** Arguably he and HHH were on the receiving end of one in a later revenge match with the [=McMahons=] and Wrestling/TheBigShow (Vince even teasing pins since he didn't want their mauling to end). [[HoistByHisOwnPetard DX still won however]].** Both gave and received one from Wrestling/ChrisJericho at during their feud.** Appeared doomed to one of these during a handicap match against Wrestling/RandyOrton and Wrestling/{{Edge}}... but instead he handed them one, culminating in a sledgehammer beatdown homage to his buddy Wrestling/TripleH.* NoSell: When he kips back up after a flying forearm shot, usually signaling an impending Sweet Chin Music.* NotInTheFace: Sensational Sherri had this rule put in the contract for Shawn's match with Rick Martel at ''Wrestling/{{SummerSlam}} 92'', and it meant that Shawn couldn't hit Rick there either.* OhCrap: Can be clearly heard screaming "ooh shit" early in the 1995 Royal Rumble* PetTheDog: Rick Bognar, who played the "fake" Razor Ramon, said in an interview that he was treated like a complete pariah in the locker room, but the one guy who was nice to him was Shawn of all people. He appparently gave him tips on how to act like Razor and put him in connection with ScottHall to get some of his old gear. Keep in mind this was late 1996, around the peak of Shawn's real life jerkdom. * PintSizedPowerhouse: Not as small as wrestlers like Wrestling/ReyMysterioJr or Wrestling/EvanBourne, but when five-foot-eleven Shawn is matched against six-foot-ten [[Wrestling/TheUndertaker Undertaker]] and can bodyslam him? He counts.* PopularityPower** But not enough to get him cheered anywhere in Canada or after screwing Wrestling/DanielBryan out of the WWE Championship. So much to the point that ''it turned him heel'' for the first time in eight years. ** He gains uber-PopularityPower when in DX, enough to get him cheered in ''[[Wrestling/MontrealScrewjob Montreal]]''.* PowerStable** Wrestling/{{DGenerationX}}.** He was also, for a very short time in 2002, a member of the [[Wrestling/NewWorldOrder nWo]], and is, in fact, the last person to ever join the group.* RealSongThemeTune** The Midnight Rockers used Music/JudasPriest's "Living After Midnight" in the [[Wrestling/AmericanWrestlingAssociation AWA]] and in Continental Championship Wrestling, where they also used Music/MotleyCrue's "Girls Girls Girls."** When WWE did crossover shows in Japan with SWS (Super World Sports), the Rockers got Music/OzzyOsbourne's "Crazy Train."* RedBaron: The Heartbreak Kid, as well as the aforementioned quote on top of the page.* ReligiousBruiser: Became one with his comeback in 2002 and continued as one until his retirement.* RetiredBadass: His retirement hasn't stopped him from kicking people in the face. He's dropped Drew [=McIntyre=], Wrestling/AlbertoDelRio, and a few others, in addition to being the special guest referee for HHH/Taker II at Wrestlemania 28. During that match, Shawn manhandled both guys, and doled out a superkick to Taker for getting a bit chair-shot-happy.* RickyMorton: Especially in DX. Every single match seemed to run along the lines of "heel team beats Shawn Michaels like a bag of puppies, Shawn makes the hot tag to Hunter, Hunter kicks ass, they hit their double finishers, and win the match".* RoaringRampageOfRevenge:** His feud with Wrestling/VinceMcMahon ended with one of these in a match at [=Wrestlemania=] after Vince had done everything in his power to destroy Shawn. By the end of the match, Shane was handcuffed to the ring rope and thoroughly pummeled and [[QuirkyMiniBossSquad the Spirit Squad]] had the holy hell beat out of them. And that's not even going into what he did to Vince himself. After beating the living crap out of him, [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill he shoved him in a trash can, put him on a table, and then gave him an elbow drop from an]] ''[[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill insanely]]'' [[NoKillLikeOverkill tall ladder]]. ''Then'' gave him a Sweet Chin Music for good measure before ''finally'' pinning him.** Wrestling/ChrisJericho found out the hard way, do ''not'' hurt Shawn Michaels' wife and then ''brag about it.'' Shawn not only completely destroyed Jericho's TheDragon, he beat Jericho so badly the ref had to end the match. Both had signed contracts saying no lawsuits could be filed on the WWE or one another and there were no rules. Shawn ''still'' managed to dish out such a beating that the ref had to end the match!** After Wrestling/TripleH's second quad tear - which ended both their tag-title reign and second run as DX - Shawn went after Wrestling/{{Edge}} and Wrestling/RandyOrton, who were crowing about having taken out Hunter. Shawn [[DropTheHammer picked up Hunter's sledgehammer]] and unleashed hell.* SanitySlippage: In 2010, Shawn Michaels started down this road when he obsessed over getting a rematch with The Undertaker at ''[=WrestleMania=] 26''.* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Several times. In fact, has a history of being stripped of or losing titles through means other than actually doing the dreaded J.O.B. in the ring.** Went MIA following ''[=SummerSlam=] 93'', leading to him being stripped of the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/ic.html WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Title]].** ''Wrestling/SurvivorSeries 1994'' opened with the Bad Guys (who [[NonIndicativeName were actually the]] {{Face}}s) [[note]][[Wrestling/ScottHall Razor Ramon]][=/=]The 1-2-3 Kid[=/=][[Wrestling/DaveyBoySmith the British Bulldog]][=/=][[WildSamoan the Headshrinkers [Fatu (Rikishi) and Sionne (the Barbarian)]]][[/note]] vs. the Teamsters[[note]]Shawn[=/=][[Wrestling/KevinNash Diesel]][=/=]Wrestling/OwenHart[=/=]Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart[=/=]Wrestling/JeffJarrett[[/note]]. After Diesel had eliminated the Kid and the Headshrinkers, and Bulldog had been counted out, leaving Razor in the unenviable position of having to fight ''five guys'' by himself, all five members of the Teamsters were counted out when Shawn and Diesel started fighting. Shawn headed to the parking lot, dropping off his half of the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-world-t.html WWE World Tag Team Title]] belts, which he had held with Diesel at the time, with interviewer/announcer Todd Pettingill. This also marked the first and only time in ''Survivor Series'' history that ''an entire team'' had been counted out.** Forfeited the IC Title to Dean Douglas (Shane Douglas) at ''WWF in Your House IV.'' (though that time due to injury after getting assaulted outside a nightclub.)** Forfeited the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-h.html WWF Championship Title]] in the infamous "I lost my smile" incident on ''Raw'' on February 13, 1997, all because he didn't want to have to drop the belt to Bret at ''[=WrestleMania=] XIII'', in return for Bret having done so a year earlier.** Walked out in June 1997, thus forfeiting his half of the WWF World Tag Team Titles which he held at the time with [[Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin "Stone Cold" Steve Austin]].* SelfDeprecation: Maybe. He once said, "There's not a lot upstairs when it comes to the Heartbreak Kid."* ShootTheDog: His both {{Kayfabe}} and RealLife stance on the Montreal Screw Job.* ShoutOut: His finisher, Sweet Chin Music, was a shout out to when Roger "The Rocket" Clemens would hurl a fastball at a batter who had pissed him off/was crowding the plate to which the commentor would state that Clemens just gave him a "Litte Sweet Chin music." * ShutUpHannibal: His reply to Hannibal Lectures? Normally a [[FinishingMove Sweet Chin Music]] to the face.* SpotMonkey: Shawn is an interesting aversion. While he did employ a lot of high-level spots in his matches (at every point in his career, up until he retired) and is pretty much the standard to which all spot monkeys aspire, he's one of the acknowledged best at using WrestlingPsychology and said spots to tell stories with his matches.* SpotlightStealingSquad: Had a habit of interrupting other feuds/promos/whatever. Notable examples include:** The buildup to ''[=WrestleMania=] XX'' (Chris Benoit had earned a title shot by winning the ''Wrestling/RoyalRumble'', but Michaels wanted a rematch as at that same event his match for the WHC ended in a draw, so he interrupted the contract-signing, kicked Benoit in the face, and signed himself up for ''[=WrestleMania=]''.)** He did basically the same thing before Mania 23, interrupting a segment with John Cena, Wrestling/{{Batista}}, and The Undertaker (who'd just won the Rumble by eliminating Michaels last) and pretty much just declared himself the main event. Nobody complained.** This was his entire schtick during his period as Commissioner, often re-booking the entire show, live, on the air, just to screw with people.** Interrupted the feud between Bret Hart and The Undertaker to such an extent that both men pretty much forgot about each other and just started feuding with Michaels.** Did it hilariously to Wrestling/KurtAngle on Raw once. Angle had beaten Cena at Unforgiven, and Cena had since become champion. Angle was arguing that, since he won at Unforgiven, he should get a title shot. Michaels interrupted the segment, pointing out that "If that's all it takes: I won at Unforgiven. I want a title shot." Watch the clip if you can find it; Vince [=McMahon=] can barely keep a straight face through the segment.** Yet another memorable example: the buildup the first Elimination Chamber match. The buildup had been focused around the feud(s) between Triple H, Chris Jericho, and Wrestling/RobVanDam, mostly, with Wrestling/BookerT and Wrestling/{{Kane}} thrown in largely for flavor and the sixth spot being pretty much ignored. Michaels, who was supposed to have been crippled by Triple H at the previous ''[=SummerSlam=]'', showed up in a wheelchair, claiming that he was recovering. Then he cautioned, to Triple H, "Don't hunt...what you can't kill." Then, after struggling to get out of the wheelchair, [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome he easily jumped out, started dancing and declared himself the sixth competitor in the Elimination Chamber]]. The buildup immediately shifted to being pretty much: Michaels vs. Triple H, and also four other guys were there.** Surprisingly averted when it comes to the World Title scene. Oh sure, Shawn might have title matches, but he hasn't actually ''held'' the title since 2002 after the first Elimination Chamber. This is reportedly by his own volition, as he's done with being world champion, seems far more concerned with giving the best show possible for the fans, and is quite happy to give younger talent the spot.* SquashMatch: Back during his Wrestling/{{N|ationalWrestlingAlliance}}WA days he was on the wrong end of a beloved in hindsight example against Wrestling/JohnNord.* StealthPun[=/=]StealthInsult: He's "The Heartbreak Kid"... and his ArchEnemy was Wrestling/BretHart.* StillGotIt: The guy was 44 years old when he retired, an age that even the greatest wrestlers (most notably Wrestling/TheUndertaker right now) never really last to in the ring due to the intense physicality of the sport, and Shawn was STILL just as good as he was in his 20s. Some would say even better.** It was said during his second run in the '00s, Shawn tended to pull out at least a three star match on nothing but pure instinct ''alone''. Even four years out of the ring did nothing to diminish his skills -- much like Chris Jericho, Shawn never lost it, not even once.* {{Stripperific}}:** In his early days, he took the trope pretty literally. Even into his "retirement" years, Shawn would play with this: when Vince tried to fire him as Commissioner, he responded by superkicking the man and then stripping over his unconscious body.** Shawn portrayed a "sexy Jesus" a few weeks before his match with Undertaker at Wrestlemania XXV. Yes, you read that right. An angelic figure in white, stripping to "Sexy Boy."* TagTeam** The American Force, with Paul Diamond** The Midnight Rockers/The Rockers, with Marty Jannetty, in the Wrestling/AmericanWrestlingAssociation, the CWA in Memphis, Continental Championship Wrestling in Alabama, and in Wrestling/{{WWE}}** "Two Dudes with Attitudes," with [[Wrestling/KevinNash Diesel]]* TakeThat** His feud with Wrestling/HulkHogan in 2005 was one long Take That. He did a segment that parodied Larry King Live dressed as Hogan and told a "caller" that Hogan only worked big cities and wouldn't put in the effort once he had the money "in [my] front pocket, brother", while adding Shawn Michaels would work just as hard in Battle Creek, MI as he would in Madison Square Garden. Despite being the heel, that comment received a huge cheer from the crowd for the validity of it. The overselling of Hogan's attacks at Summerslam goes without saying.*** A part of that is because Hogan's sparse appearances meant that Shawn was (more or less) forced to build the feud up on his own. Hogan's refusal to put him over in a rematch (citing a bad knee) led to the overselling, indicating just how pissed off Shawn was about it.** Considering who his greatest rival is, his nickname "The Heartbreak Kid" may be one (as well as a StealthPun).* TalkShowWithFists: "The Heartbreak Hotel"* TeamDad: Backstage Michaels became a mentor to many of the younger talents.* TheatricsOfPain: He's one of the best wrestlers at selling, especially when it involves his [[GameBreakingInjury back]]. He's also admitted that half the time, when it comes to his back, he really isn't faking it.* TookALevelInKindness: When he initially retired in 1998 not a lot of people were too sad to see him go. His return as a changed man did a lot to fix his tarnished reputation. By the time he retired for good in 2010, everyone in the company was genuinely saddened by his leaving and gave him a standing ovation after his match with the Undertaker.* TotallyRadical: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COOh6LafphQ&feature=youtu.be&t=101 Returned on the January 9, 2017 episode of Monday Night Raw]] to promote his role in the movie "The Resurrection of Gavin Stone". Wrestling/EnzoAndCass soon joined him, as did Jinder Mahal, along with Wrestling/RusevAndLana. When Enzo started to do his "What do we got ova' here?" bit, Shawn was excited to jump in, sounding as uncool as he possibly could:-->'''Shawn:''' You know what, what you kids call them today? ... haters! They're haters! Haters, I tell you!* TragicMistake** Shawn and Bret were initially friends whose heat was mostly limited to {{Kayfabe}}. When Shawn made the mistake of actually targeting Bret's family in a promo to gain heat, he crossed a line with Bret. If that had never happened, a lot of tragedy could have been averted.** To be more precise, Shawn cut a promo where he implied that Bret (who was married at the time) had slept with [[Wrestling/TammyLynnSytch Tammy "Sunny" Sytch]]. This led to a fistfight backstage that pretty much destroyed their friendship for almost two decades. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUdzPE0PbhA Here's the promo in question, at around the 8:30 mark.]]** It's been alleged (albeit by the Wrestling/BretHart camp) that Vince deliberately encouraged the backstage feeling, thinking it would make a more convincing in-ring product. [[GoneHorriblyRight It did.]]* TheTropeKid: "The Heartbreak Kid"* TrueCompanions** Wrestling/TheKliq, which included [[RealLife real-life friends]] Wrestling/TripleH, Wrestling/KevinNash, Wrestling/ScottHall, and Sean Waltman (X-Pac). [[http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/blaqueluna/dx/clique-reunion.jpg Three out of four]] were at Shawn's WWE Hall of Fame induction. The fourth (Hall) wasn't there, because he didn't want to be put in an environment that could threaten his sobriety. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PcHJYXPBM0E Video here, proving that the love between these guys is off the charts.]]** This would be rectified 2 years later when Hall, now clean and sober, was inducted and all members of the kliq were up on the stage. * VitriolicBestBuds: With Wrestling/TripleH, especially in [[Wrestling/{{DGenerationX}} DeGeneration X]]. Also in RealLife.** ''Especially'' in real life. [[http://atlanta.sbnation.com/pro-wrestling/2011/4/2/2087732/wwe-hall-of-fame-induction-ceremony-2011-triple-h-shawn-michaels Hunter's induction speech]] is full of cracks about Shawn's hair, wardrobe, height, and intelligence . . . but also a ton of love and respect.* VocalDissonance: Shawn has a much deeper voice than you'd expect from a PrettyBoy like him.* WithFriendsLikeThese: {{Kayfabe}}: HHH and Shawn still had a lot of love for each other even though they spent the better part of three years trying to end each other's career.* WildCard: {{Face}} or {{heel}}, Michaels was unpredictable. And it helped that he has one of the very few finishers (along with the Stunner, the RKO, the Mandible/Socko Claw and The Rock Bottom) that can be delivered pretty much out of nowhere. Many a supposed ally or mouthy interviewer found himself with a face full of foot. Michaels also had a penchant for interrupting other wrestlers' promos just because he could (especially Wrestling/KurtAngle).* WomenAreWiser: Much like in kayfabe, Sherri was protective of him and would claw the eyes out of guys who refused to sell for him, put him over, etc. She also was politically savvy because of the time she’d spent with Wrestling/RandySavage, and could spot subtle things he couldn't. The insults she clued Shawn into pissed him off so much that, when he finally got to be the champ, “I [[BestServedCold stuffed it in everybody’s face.]]”* WorthyOpponent: Any of his co-{{face}} rivals [[ArchEnemy except]] Wrestling/BretHart. Wrestling/TheUndertaker and Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin are perhaps the most notable examples.** Bret Hart was considered a Worthy Opponent prior to the ''[=WrestleMania=] XII'' match.** Indeed, Hart considered Michaels a worthy opponent; while the two hated each other, they at least had respect for each other's in-ring abilities.** In 2012, while stressing he wasn't coming back, he specifically named Wrestling/TripleH, Wrestling/TheUndertaker, and Wrestling/ChrisJericho as people he'd wrestle again.* WrestlingFamily: His cousin Matt Bentley competed in Wrestling/{{TNA}}, Wrestling/{{MLW}} and other promotions as Michael Shane, Martyr and under his own name. Shawn himself is married to Rebecca Curci, aka former [[Characters/WCWFemaleTalent WCW Nitro Girl Whisper ]]. This is what Shawn means when he says, "There's nothing I'd rather do than Whisper all night long."* WrestlingPsychology: One of the best in the business when it comes to it.* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: Has done it a few times, but one of the best examples was when he returned in 2007 to [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown kick ten kinds of crap]] out of Wrestling/RandyOrton. Just a tip? [[BerserkButton Don't attempt to beat up]] [[Wrestling/TripleH Shawn's best friend]], or crow about it if you manage to.* ZerothLawRebellion: Michaels' infamous match against Hulk Hogan at Summerslam 2005 was a form of this- he was booked to lose to Hogan, even though Hogan had backed out of the return match, so he had no choice but to lose. He could have just [[NoSell refused to sell]] Hogan's attacks, deliberately making it a bad match to make Hogan look weak, but that would have made him look bad as well and that's not the way he rolls. So instead he got his revenge on Hogan by ''overselling'' every attack, deliberately making it a SoBadItsGood match to make Hogan look ''silly.''----